A $36,000 Graphical Workstation from 1993 | SGI Indigo 2

Summary

This video script details the journey of acquiring an SGI Indigo 2, a high-end graphical workstation from 1993, renowned for its role in the creation of iconic movies and gaming systems like the Nintendo 64. The narrator explores the machine's technical specifications, including its Myricom SN adapter for compatibility with modern monitors, and delves into the user experience of the IRIX operating system. The script also highlights the workstation's capabilities in rendering and running demos, showcasing its legacy in computer graphics and its enduring appeal to tech enthusiasts.

Takeaways

• 😀 Silicon Graphics Computer Systems (SGI) was a California tech company founded in 1981, specializing in graphical computing.
• 🎨 SGI's first product was a terminal with advanced graphical capabilities, and they later produced Unix workstations like the Iris, Crimson, and Indigo series.
• 🎬 SGI's technology played a crucial role in the creation of movies such as Jurassic Park, The Abyss, Toy Story, and Shrek.
• 🎮 SGI provided graphics hardware for the Nintendo Ultra 64, which evolved into the Nintendo 64, and contributed to its development.
• 🖥️ The SGI Indigo 2, released in 1993, was a high-end graphical workstation and a sequel to the 1991 SGI Indigo.
• 🔢 There were multiple versions of the SGI Indigo 2, including the IP22, IP26, and IP28, with the latter being the highest specification model.
• 💾 The IP28 model could support up to a gigabyte of RAM, which was extraordinary for the time when it was released in 1995.
• 🔌 The SGI Indigo 2 featured a unique 13W3 connector for monitors, requiring a sync-on-green signal, not compatible with standard monitors.
• 🔧 The speaker describes using a 13W3 cable with customizable dip switches and a sync adapter to connect the Indigo 2 to a regular VGA monitor.
• 🖥️ The speaker's Indigo 2 is a teal IP22 from 1993, equipped with a Myricom SN system, a MyriPS R4400 CPU at 200 MHz, and 128 MB of RAM.
• 🕹️ The GR3 Alon graphics subsystem in the Indigo 2 had a double stack board configuration and could output resolutions up to 1280 x 1024 at 72 Hz.
• 🎶 The A2 audio processor in the Indigo 2 provided high-quality audio with a 48 kHz sample rate and an internal speaker.
• 📺 The Indigo 2 ran IRIX, a Unix-based operating system tailored for SGI workstations, known for its user-friendly interface and compatibility with standard Unix tools.

Q & A

What was Silicon Graphics Computer Systems, also known as SGI, mainly known for?

SGI was mainly known for specializing in graphical computing and producing high-end graphical workstations and Unix workstations.

What was the significance of SGI's technology in the film industry?

SGI's technology was crucial in the creation of visual effects for movies like Jurassic Park, The Abyss, Toy Story, and Shrek, which might not have been the same without it.

Which gaming console did SGI provide graphics hardware for?

SGI provided the graphics hardware for the Nintendo Ultra 64, which later became the Nintendo 64.

What is the SGI Indigo 2 and why was it significant in 1993?

The SGI Indigo 2 is a high-end graphical workstation released in 1993, significant for its advanced graphical capabilities and for being a sequel to the highly regarded 1991 SGI Indigo.

What are the different versions of the SGI Indigo 2 mentioned in the script?

The different versions of the SGI Indigo 2 mentioned are the IP22, IP26, and IP28, with the IP28 having the highest specifications, including an option for SGI's Impact graphics and a MyIP R 10,000 CPU.

What is the Challenge M and how does it differ from other SGI Indigo 2 models?

The Challenge M is essentially an Indigo 2 without a graphics option installed, essentially acting like a desktop server, making it different from other models that come with advanced graphics capabilities.

What is the technical specification of the SGI Indigo 2 model featured in the script?

The featured SGI Indigo 2 is a teal IP22 from 1993, equipped with a MyIPs R4400 at 200 MHz, an R410 floating-point chip, 128 MB of RAM, and Express Graphics with the GR3 Alon GPU.

What is the GR3 Alon and how does it function in the SGI Indigo 2?

The GR3 Alon is a high-end pre-Impact GPU with a double stack board configuration, consisting of a VB2 board for external connectors and I/O, and a GR3 board with the HQ2 command engine, two GE7 geometry engines, and the RE3 raster engine.

What is the A2 audio processor in the SGI Indigo 2 and what does it do?

The A2 audio processor is a component in the SGI Indigo 2 that has two combined 16-bit DACs and ADCs capable of reproducing 48 kHz audio, providing high-quality sound output.

What is the SynOnGreen and why is it significant for using the SGI Indigo 2 with a monitor?

SynOnGreen is a signal configuration where the green signal in a component video signal also carries the sync signal for the monitor. It is significant because it requires specific monitors or adapters to use the SGI Indigo 2 with standard VGA monitors.

What is the operating system used by most SGI workstations and what is unique about it?

Most SGI workstations run IRIX, a version of Unix based on System 5 Unix with BSD extensions, which is designed to work well with SGI hardware and offers a user-friendly interface.

What is the significance of the FSN or Fusion demo in the context of the SGI Indigo 2?

The FSN or Fusion demo is a 3D file manager demo that was used to showcase the capabilities of SGI workstations. It is significant because it was used as inspiration for the menu in the game Super Mario 64 and represents a unique approach to file management.